Cop's DWI charges may be upgraded to a felony

Published 6:00 pm, Thursday, October 30, 2003

"What I needed to do was to verify there was a child in the car - and there was," Margery Mathis, assistant district attorney, said. "Driving while intoxicated with a child is a new law, so it's a strong possibility."

Allen Veronie, 32, is charged with driving under the influence after his colleagues arrested him on his day off near Preston Rd. and Spencer Highway.

Mathis didn't want to prematurely expand on the details of the possible upgrade, stating that she wanted to first alert Veronie's attorney "out of fairness.

By HEATHER L. NICHOLSON

Veronie has his first court appearance scheduled for Friday Nov. 7 in district court 7. Currently, the former officer is charged solely with DWI - a class B misdemeanor with the maximum penalty of 180 days in jail and/or a $2,000 fine.

But when Veronie was seen swerving in and out of lanes Oct. 14 and failed several field sobriety tests, his 7-year-old son was in the back seat buckled and asleep, police said.

A new law that took effect Sept. 1 steps up the severity of driving under the influence if a child is present. The felony charges carries a maximum penalty of two years in jail and/or a $10,000 fine.

Veronie was a Pasadena patrolman since May 2002. When he was arrested, two standard breathe analysis tests were administered and they revealed his blood alcohol level to be .199 and .182 - over two times the legal limit.

Veronie was indefinitely suspended without pay the day after his arrest

"We have an obligation as professional peace officers to set an example in the community in our conduct, on and off duty," Asst. Chief G.S. Cunningham said. "We certainly adhere to that."